Winter roads are icy and people still travel even when they probably shouldn’t and that’s when accidents happen.

Just last week in Iowa there was a multi-car pile up on I-35 due to the snow and blowing, causing slippery roads and poor visibility. People died and others were sent to the hospital.

According to the American Red Cross website, here are some blood statistics.

People who have been in car accidents and suffered massive blood loss can need transfusions of 50 pints or more of red blood cells.The average bone marrow transplant requires 120 units of platelets and about 20 units of red blood cells. Patients undergoing bone marrow transplants need platelet donations from about 120 people and red blood cells from about 20 people.Severe burn victims can need 20 units of platelets during their treatment.Children being treated for cancer, premature infants and children having heart surgery, need blood and platelets from donors of all types.Anemic patients need blood transfusions to increase their iron levels.Cancer, transplant and trauma patients and patients undergoing open-heart surgery require platelet transfusions to survive.Sickle cell disease is an inherited disease that affects more than 80,000 people in the United States, 98 percent of whom are of African descent. Some patients with complications from severe sickle cell disease receive blood transfusions every month - up to four pints at a time.

Sixty percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate, but only five percent do on a yearly basis.

Seventeen percent of non-donors cite “never thought about it” as the main reason for not giving, while 15 percent say they’re “too busy.”

The number one reason donors say they give is because they “want to help others.”

There is no substitute for human blood. It’s about Life.

Since a pint is a pound, you lose a pound every time you donate blood.

Anyone who is in good health, is at least 16 years old, and weighs at least 110 pounds may donate blood every 56 days.

In January, the American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be in Sleepy Eye on Monday, Jan. 14 from 1-7 p.m. NOTE: it is a Monday, not the typical day.

If it was your parent, spouse, child, sibling, grandparent or close friend who needed blood, you’d do whatever you could to help. You never know, the life you save could be your own. Do something now before supplies are dangerously low.

Give Blood... Save a Life!

Thought for the week: When we put ourselves in the other person’s place, we’re less likely to want to put him in his place. – Author unknown.